Neon signpost support



Oct. 5, 1943.

s. c. MILLER NEON SIGN POST SUPPORT Filed Feb. 23., 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet1 BY ATTORNEY Ochs, 1943. s. c. MILLR 2,330,835

NEON SIGN POST SUPPORT Filed Feb.v 25, 1939 '2 sheets-sheet 2 JNVENTOR.Smm/EL C /W/LEE BY f ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 5, 1943 v 'U'Nrrfefof:STATES PATENT ortica Application February ze, 1939*, seria1 No, 25ans'10` Claims.

This t invention lrelates insgeneral to themounting 'of luminous:gaseous electrical f discharge tubes, such as the well-knownfneon.lightsor .the like. u More particularly., it relates to..connectormeans by which .posts 'or brackets secured :to .lthe luminous tubeswmaybe-.mounted Y on 'a ,backing or- `base plate gsuch as is customarily.used luminous sign work, in which .tubes of variousesizes, congurationsand '.colorsfare assembledV on such -loackings. l ;;Coordinatelytherewith itrela'tes lto a tool for facilitating .the ready mounting vofIsuch,` luminous tubes and. more particularly; for attaching .theaforementioned :connector means to a backing plate.

It is among the/ general objectssof `my invention to providein aluminous, lgaseouslelectrical discharge tube installation a simple,effective,r low costI arrangement adapted forbeing'seoured to a backingcrbasey plate without the .use of screws or bolts and .without access tothe back of "such base plate being necessary and adaptedto receivethereinmembers ,attached to theluminous: tubes.

It iswfurtherA among the generalobjects, of lmy invention to provide `atool adapted gto, facilitate the installationo .anv arrangement such 'as,just described. l f

TvVhile arrangements for, this purpose :arenot new, the typesatheneofwithwhich :I am familiar fall short of approaching the optimumV.results in one or more ofthefollowing respects, amongothers: Many ofthemydoznotlafford a iirinl or .secure ,supportf or :while firm. yandsecure @when ini- .tially installed, loosen on even become: detachedina; comparativelyshort-time;'y Others ofthedevices lack vsufficient:capacityior adjustment and alignment-, so; asto permit ofthetubesbeingassembled without, distortion yand strain, whileothers againwhile theyfmayfbe aligned `and adjusted with the expenditure `of much ltime and labor, :possess no capacity for selfalignment such., as willassurev their automatically 4assuming a .position in which the partsthey support arefsub- `jected to the v-rninimuin strain., Qthersagain-'are diiiculil or tedioustoinstall.

It is therefore f L- rrlbngfthe-more'particularob-V jects of my-invention 'co-provide an arrangement for rmlysupporting-luminous tubesof the;char acter mentioned which-is feiectivef and reliable inoperation and will not become ,a ccidentally loosened Vand,-fdisplaced,and, which lis selfad- ,justing and `self-aligning, and can :be readilyinstalled. l l l jeets as` may;animarA hercinfor be hereinafter ,mentof` my invention;

pointed out, l makereference to vthe accompanying `drawings yfor-minglva part; vhereof, in -whichr Figure lis van elevational viewshown-g ith@1 2@- plicationV of my `invei'itonxtol themountingtof 1uminous gaseouselectricr'discha'rge tubes;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of'one embodivFigure 3 isa planviewffofgthegdeviceof lFigure 2 ,in'place on abaseplate; n f Figure 1 isa sectional view, .onftheline 4-4 =of .Figure 3, looking in the@directionof rthe arrows; 'Figure 5 is a sectional view ,zorn thefline5- 5 Iof Figure 4, lookingvinthefdire'ctionfotthe 4arrows; y Figure 6Aisaside, elevationalviewiof la second embodimentof, myinvention;

yFigure 7 is a sectional viewionfthe line 1; 'l:of Figure 6,1 lool5ingin the directionfo the arrows; Figure 8. is.- an :elevational 4viewpartly in :section, of a. further embodiment .of my inventon; l Figure 9ris anielevational View, of a tool adapt- -edyfor use in the operationof .inst,alling luminous ftubesusing `my:improved',Inounting means insuch :installation:

Figure l10 is a perspectiveexplodedlview of janother embodiment-,pf theinvention;

- Figure 11 is .a :side elevational View; of an in-ALS.trurnentfalliti/for applying thefsame;

1 FigurelZ .is a longitudinal sectional view, taken ralong the lines @IZftz :of Figi. 1Q, showing; the mannerin whichg the device is 1attached,.with

the instrumentality vin 'fthe forward stroke Figure 13 is l a;similarview,i showing the ,iin- St ruinerltalitvnon the returnistroke;

a Figure llll; is a ifraementax ing the completed installatie-nini i;l ie attaching means; f

Figure 415 `a ifraementarvfareanface view lof the same.

and the othwjerpendiwmr-thereto;tarmenews I? .is ,shown fastenedgto feach of these l egs.

y .fIhe :posts .P are shown asl` of conv ntional thefulbe L mayeat,endhOOK-.lke protuberances H over which,,wresmWwserving :tol secure -thetubes L to the posts 1P., may be led.

tion s :having annulahgloovesiatintervals A'solas eotional view-showtoprovide constricted portions permitting relatively ready fracturethereat, for the purpose of varying the height of the post P.

The problem solved by my invention is the effective connection at lowcost of posts P, of conventional type, to a backing, base or face plateB, of a type such as is conventionally used for luminous tube sign work.One embodiment of my invention adapted for effecting such a connectionwillbe foundV illustrated in Figures 2 to 6 in detail, and thisembodiment has also been shown in Figure 1 in place in a tubeinstallation. In these figures the connectors shown for uniting theposts P to the base plate or backing B will be foundshown to consistl oftwo main parts,

a socket or pedestal member, designated as a whole by the numeral I andadapted to receive the stem portion S of a post P, and a fastenermember, designated as a whole by the numeral` II and serving to effectthe connection between the socket or'pedestal member l@ and the baseplate B. Ank additional element will be found in the resilient washer I2interposed intermediate the fastener II and the socket Ill andperforming a function all as will be more fully described here`inafter..

The socket member I0 of this first embodiment of my improved' connectoras shown in Figures 2 to 5 comprises a body portion having paired ngersI3-extending outwardly from a central jportion I4 from the bottom ofwhich extends laterally a foot portion I5 having a slot I6 therein for apurposethat will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The fingers I3.are contoured and disposed as to encompass thestem'portion S of a post P; by making them resilient they willaccommodate themselves withinr limits, to postsy or to portions of postsof 'different diameters. It will further be observed that each pair ofngers I3 can accommodate itself to the stem contours independently ofthefothers and that consequently by using a plurality of such pairsspaced from each other a greater number of independent points ofengagement'between the inner '.walls Y of the fingersv I3 and a stem Smay result."-The "fingers are preferably of such width that theypurposes, it is to be understood that I may use more than that number.On the other hand mor certain purposes-also, only onepair of ngers maybe found desirable,

Each of the fingers I3 of the lowermost pair isv shown as provided witha downwardly ex,- tending lug I'I projecting to such an extent bev-lowthe contours'of the socket member thatthev two lugs I'I and the toeportion I8 of the foot portion I5 constitute in effecta three pointsupport assuring a rm foundation for the socket or pedestal member whenit is resting on the base plate (see Figure 4). The lugs Il furtherserve to raise the lower surface of the foot portion I5 away from thesurface of the base plate, so that thefoot portion may be 'deformedwithin limits, touching the base plate other than at the points of thethree point support just described. This'feature will be found to be ofimportance when the operation of the fastener member,rto be nextdescribed, is understood.

The fastener I I is shown as comprising a fiattened`perforatedheadportion I9, a relatively restricted hollow neck portion20, and an en larged hollow nose portion 2l. A plurality of slits 22which it will be observed extend into the head portion IS, divide thenose portion and the neck portion into segments 23 which may bedescribed as jaws The material of the fastener is preferably of suchcharacter that the jaws 23 are resilient.

The nose portion 2l and` the neck portion are so proportioned inrelation'to-openings'O in the backing` plate and to'theflslot i6 in thesocket member, that they may be inserted through the slot I6 and throughthe opening O (see Figs. 2, and 5), and so that the nose portion 2l willprotrude beyond the reverse side of the plate B and will expand into aposition in which its rear portions form shoulders engaging the walls ofi the opening O and'lresist withdrawal of the fastener.

The dished spring washer I2 is preferably interposed underneath the'headI9 of the fastener and betweenvit and the vfoot portion I5 of thesocket. Itvadds a further element of resiliency to the arrangement, inaddition' to the resiliency of the fastener jaws 23, and some degree ofresiliency of the foot portion E5. As a result there is never, in any ofthe ordinary positions of vthe fastener, any suchposition in whichtheparts are not under tension and free play therebetween is eliminated. Atthe same time the parts are free t0 adjust themselvesfor purposes ofselfalignment. It will be observed thatthe pedestal member It may swivelabout the fastener member II, and at .the same time the fastener memberI I can swivel in the opening O. This swivelling is indicated by the.arrows A in Figure 5.

Movement radially ofthe opening is permitted by sliding of the neckportion 2li! of the fastener inthe slot I6.' Tilting of the socketorpedestal member from thevertical is also possible to a limited degreedue to the resiliency of its various parts.

In order to permit of the use ofI my improved fastener v.member II withsocket members of other types, the dimensions thereof, and particularlyof its neck and nose portions 20 and 2|,

suming that the plate B is-in position, and provided with 4holes O, theoperator withone hand will holdslot I6 in position over a hole O andwith the other hand will force a fastener I I (with a spring washer l2underneathits head) through slot 'land hole,"and the fastener'will snapinto place because of the resiliency of its jaws. If desired it maybewithdrawn byexerting a sufficient force onit. jv Where preformedholesare provided in the plate B it is of coursev necessary-inassembling the posts P to thetubes vL to mount them in approximatelytheiry nal l positions.` However, great accuracy in this respect is notrequired, because of the great capacity of the mounting for radjustmentand self-alignment, and because the posts P may be slid along the tubeL.-

scribed) and -the yfastener II `(orthecorresponding parts with orwithout the spring washer I2,- where used) may be initially assembledand .be

i ready as a unit, the'proportioning of the slot I6 to the head or' jaws23 (or the corresponding parts in the other embodiments) being such thatthese parts maybe handled as a unit,-by reason of the frictionalengagementwhich thehead or jaws 23 makes as it passes through the slotI6.

While I have described that` `in installing luminous tubes L, the postsP. may `first be loosely assembled to the tubes L, this is one mode ofoperation, but the preferred mode is t locate the sockets" l@ (or thecorresponding` parts) in the perforations O by their vcorrespondingfastener elements and have these inreadiness'for `attaching the posts P,followed by ywiring the tubes L to these posts.

Where preformed holes are not provided in the plate B, it is a simplematter to drill these in the field; again there is .no lneed for greatvaoi curacy. It` will be observed .that my improved mounting does`noteniploy screw threads'so that defective workmanshiptherein due topoorlyintertting male and female threaded members is not a source oftrouble, as it is in such threaded constructions. Access to the back ofthe plate is never necessary, whether for applying the fastener or forremoving it.` All manipulations may be performed with one pair ofhands-that is, by one operator; another `operator is required only tohold large tubes in the proper position while the first operator securestheir portions in place. l .i v

In Figures 6 and 7 I have'shown a second embodiment `of my invention inwhich the com'- plete assembly comprises only a socket and a fastenermember, and the spring washer shown intermediate these parts in theembodiment of Figure 2, has been eliminated. Parts of this embodimentcorresponding to parts of the embodiment of Figure 2 have been similarlynumbered, with the addition to each number of the suffix a, anddescription thereof, where the function is the same, will be omitted assuperfluous.

It will be observed that the foot portion ld of the socket Imember lilais bowed or arched in' transverse section,-as clearly appears fromFigure '7, whereby obviously, its rigidity in a longitudinal directionwill be increased. By `making the socket member orat least Vthe footportion |50. thereof of resilient material, the foot portion will assumethe function of the spring washer l2 of the embodiment of `Figure 2.

A further embodiment of my invention which I may characterize as thepreferredy embodiment f of my invention, is shown in Figure 8. Thisembodiment resembles that of Fig. 2 in all `respects except theconstruction of the fastener member.

vFor that reason `all parts shown in said figure eicept the fastenermember have been numbered to correspond to the similar parts of Figure2,

`with the sumx bwaddedpto the numerals.

, outward as shown inFigureS, `and reverse movement, that, is, movementtendingito withdraw "the Lfastener member `will Abepreventedrby therengagement of the prongs 3.3 aganstthe reverse side of the plate B. Inthismanner the fastener provides a connectionthat is: more secure thanthat` provided by `the -fa'stener i l of Figure 2. While a tool might bereadily devised for pushing `the prongs 33 inward to .enable withdrawalof the fastener 3D from the` opening O', ordinarily this'type offastener, would be used with the contemplation; of its destruction whenthe `parts areto be disassembled.

InFigure 9 I have 'shown a tool that maybe conveniently used inconjunction with the operation of attaching my improved-fasteningmembers to plates B. As illustrated in Figure 9, such atool may'comprisea handle portion xprovided with a blunt endportion il adapted to form ashoulder against which may rest the head I9 of a fastener rl I, and fromwhich projects a resilient longitudinally splitportion 132 adapted forinsertion into the hollow of the neck portion 25J of the fastener`member `Il andto resiliently engage the inner walls thereof. Oncevin-`serted into a fastener member it will hold it while` the` fastener isbeing pushed into place, using the `tool as a' handle and once thefastener is in place, the tool is readily withdrawntherefrommas will beobvious.

InDerforming the operation just described, the spring'washer l2 may beplaced over the neck of` the fastener, as shown in.Figure 9, before thefastener is positioned. i

Making reference to Figures 10 to l5, there is illustrated anotherembodiment of my `invention. i

In this embodiment,.any standard socket member 5t, having the usual`laterally extending base 5l, may be employed. This; base El, `may-beformed with the longitudinal slot 52, as will be recognized by those inthe art as existing at the present time. It will be understood, however,as in the embodiments previously,illustrated, some degree of resiliencyor springiness may be v given to the basefsl byslightly angularly ;dis

posing the base 5l from a point adjacent the inner` end 53 and therouterend. 54, thereof. This slight angular displacement `will temporarilyprovide a two point Contact between the lugs 55 and the end 54. i

Y Additionally, resilient` or spring action may be obtainedbyarcuatelyforming the base 51 in its transverse section, `as will beapparent from a `with a small orifice El.

consideratio-n of Figures 6 and '7. The angular vdisplacement of thebase 5I -or its arcuate forma- [5l made of sectional elements connectedto the flange 53 and defined by slit lines 59. Sectional construction isobtainedby'slitting the shank 51 along the `slit lines 59 and extendinginto the ange 58, to give requisite flexibility, as will be `readilyunderstood. The forward portions ofthe sectional elements of the shank5l' are formed with inwardly directed tongues 6E, providing a ratherclose contactingcluster of these elements, Thetongues 6B, as will beapparent,` are `bent sharply upwardly lso vthat their ends 62.iprovideslatching "elements,

thefunctionof which will-be1 apparent as4 this description proceeds. l rItfwill. be observed thatthefastener element 56 has an internal boring'or orifice. 63 of relatively large diameter, andan orificel ofcrela.-tively small diameter. .Y I j .WithLtliisforrnof fastening elementprovided, I. thenprovide a sprng'vvaslier 64having an orifice 65corresponding substantially to the diameter of the shank 51 of thefastener element 56. It will be understood that the springiness of thespring washer 64 may be obtained by dishing this element and making thewasher 64 of suitable spring material.

For ready attachment of the socket member 50 to a frame plate B, whichis formed with an orifice O, it is preferred that I accomplish the sameby an instrumentality shown in Figure 11. This is preferably apercussion tool comprising a shaft 66, one end whereof is provided witha handle 61, having a flange 68. Adjacent the opposite end 69 I providea sleeved collar 10, formed with a slot 1I, permitting limited slidablemovement for the length of the slot 1| by a cross pin 12. Between thecollar 10 and the ange 63, I interpose a coiled spring 13 which normallyforces the collar 1U away from the flange 68. It will be understood thatthe collar 16 may move upwardly in the form shown in Figure l1, asdetermined by the length of the slot 1l against the resilient eX-pansion of the spring 13. The free end of the shaft 66, extending beyondthe collar 10, is tapered or conically formed to its free end 14,providing a sharp point, and terminates at its'base into a cylindricalsection 15, the diameter of which corresponds substantially to theboring 63 of the fastener element 56.

Spaced from the section 15 is an annular slot 16, having a rather sharpshoulder 11.

With an instrumentality of this character provided, I will now refer toFigures 12 and 13 for the manner in which the socket member may beaffixed to a sign plate B, employing the fastener element 56 and springwasher 64.

I first nest the washer 64 upon the shank 51 of the fastener element 56and these elements, in turn, are then projected through the slot 52,formed in the base member 5I. The assembly is then positioned so thatthe shank 51 enters the orifice O. In this position, the point of theinstrumentality shown in Figure 11 is forced to enter the orifice 6I.Pressure upon the handle 61 serves first to project the point 14 throughthe orice 6l. As the pressure is continued and the shaft 69 movesthrough the collar 16, Contact f will be made by the collar 10 and theflange 58, to drive the shaft 51 through the orifice O against thespring action of the washer 64. As the shaft 69 progresses downwardly,the tapered sides of the instrumentality spread the sections 51, as willappear in dotted lines in Figure 12. v This action serves to upset thesections `51 by reason of the camming effect obtained by thertaperedportion 14 against the tongues 60.

The limiting movement downwardly of the shaft 69 against the collar 1Ufinally projects the shaft 69 so that the annular slot 15 is broughtbeyond the line of the tongues 60, so that onthe return stroke, the ends62 of the tongues 60 may enter the slot 16. The retraction movementcauses engagement of the shoulder 11 with the ends 62 of the fastenerelement. Further retraction of the shaft 69 thereby serves further tocrimp the sections 51 on the interior face of the plate B, to form alocking element, as Will appear more clearly from an inspectionofFigures 14 and 155, .9`1..

' `It Vwill thus be apparent that by the embodiment herein illustrated,.the socket member 50 may be applied to a plate B and the orice Othereof, in a simple manner, from the front face of the frame plate `B.Asimple tool,.in the nature of a percussion tool, not only maybeutilized to locate the fastener element 56 but, in the same stroke ofaction in pressing the same in posi.- tion, upset the sections 51 intolocking engagement. It is understood that the spring washer 64 and suchspringiness as may be oiered by the base 5| compensate for any variationin thickness of the frame plate B.

It will also be apparent that the fastener elements 56 may be made ofreadily deformable metal so that if it should be found necessary toremove the socket member 50, any simple tool, such as a screw driver,may be pried underneath the flange 58 to remove the same. While thisaction may permanently disiigure the fastener element 56, these partsare relatively so inexpensive that they may be discarded after oncehaving been used.

In general, it will be observed that I have provided a construction forquickly and facilely at taching socket members of the character de.-scribed, without the use of screws or bolts and without absolute needfor making the rear face of the frame plate accessible.

,It will further be observed that while it is known to me that screwshave heretofore been used to threadedly engage the frame plate, myconstruction permits a fastening engagement by the mere thrusting of thefastening element through the orice of the frame plate, by a singlestroke.

It will further be observed that by reason of .the resiliency of theresilient elements comprislsliding action along the slot formed in thefoot portion or base so that the socket member may be adjusted to bealigned with the neon sign tube L.

It will be understood that while all of the benets of my invention maybe obtained by utilizing all of the features, my invention is notthereby to be limited but that selected portions of my embodiments havenovelty per se, and that my invention is to be limited by the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, and illustratedits use, what Idesire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In connecting means for mounting luminous gaseous electricaldischarge tubes on perforated base plates, a socket member having anextension 'forming a support and shaped to provide a three 2. In meansfor effecting a connection between 'a luminous gaseous electricaldischarge tube and ya perforated backing plate, a socket member adaptedto receive a post connected to said tube, and a fastener member adaptedto be fastened to v said plate by the resilient engagement ofportionsthereof with the walls of a perforation in said plate, and said socketand fastener members being resiliently interconnected so as to berelatively slidable and rotatable.

3. In means for effecting a connection between a luminous gaseouselectrical discharge tube and a perforated backing plate, a socketmember adapted to receive a post connected to said tube, and a fastenermember adapted to be fastened to said plate by the resilient engagementof portions thereof with the walls of a perforation in said plate, andsaid socket and fastener members being resiliently interconnected so asto be relatively slidable and rotatable, said interconnection includinga spring washer.

4. In means for effecting a connection between a luminous gaseouselectrical discharge tube and a perforated backing plate, a socketmember adapted to receive a post connected to said tube having a lateralextension forming a support for said socket, and a separable fastenermember adapted to be resiliently snapped into a perforation of saidplate and to be positively held against withdrawal therefrom andengaging said extension, and a resilient connection between theextension of said socket and fastener members.

5.In a connector for effecting a connection between a post carried by a'luminous gaseous electrical discharge tube and a backing plate, a

, socket member comprising spaced pairs of resilient jaws adapted togrip said post, a foot portion extending laterally from the ends of anend pair of jaws, and a lug projecting outwardly from each jaw of saidend pair of jaws and to be extended substantially beyond other edgeportions of said jaws so as to provide, together with the toe of saidfoot portion a three point support for said member one of which pointsof support being adjacent the end of said foot portion, another of whichpoints of -contact being adjacent the lug extended from the said jaw.

6. In a socket member comprising resilient jaws adapted to gripa post,lugs extending from said jaws and adapted to contact a at surface and tospace said jaws therefrom, and a slotted foot portion extendingoutwardly to one side of said.

jaws and adaptedto cooperate to space said jaws from said flat surface,said foot portion being arched in transverse cross-section.

'7. In a socket member for mounting sign posts of the characterdescribed and which are to be used for attaching said sign posts to asign frame plate by use of an anchoring orice formed in said plate, saidsocket member comprising a perforated base extending laterally outwardlyin a warped condition to provide a resilient contact between saidbaseand said plate, the perforation whereof being adapted to be aligned withthe anchoring orifice of said plate, the combination with theresiliently disposed base of said member of a fastening element passingthrough said base for connecting said socket to said sign frame platecomprising a headed element having a shank formed with sectionalportions arranged to pass through said base and plate, said portionsbeing expansible longitudinally and Vtransversely of said shank toanchor saidbase to said plate upon expansion of said portions byadjustment to the thickness of said base, the warped condition thereofand plate lying between said element and said portions.

8. In a socket member in accordance with claim '7, wherein the fasteningelement thereof is formed from normally i resiliently deformable sheetmetal.

9. In a socket member in accordance with claim '7, wherein the fasteningelement thereof has the sectional portions thereof formed to terl in theform of an elongated `slot and wherein the headed element includesresilient means to compensate for play between said element and saidplate and to augment the frictional contact between said base and plateto hold said base in frictional adjustable position on said plate.

SAMUEL C- MILLER.

